Celebration Pictures

Makenna's 1st Birthday Photos

Makenna & Papa

The reach for the smash birthday cake

These hands were busy

The cutest caked birthday girl

And she is done...





Cole's Kindergarten Graduation


A surprise visit from Papa and Popo

Dr. Shank with the clip-on tie

Breakfast with Makenna & Coal MIner's Crit. WIN!!

That's right, I won again and I won using the same tactic I've used for all my wins. What is that? It's simply the element of surprise. Kick hard and leave it all on the road. I like sprinting on my terms and going when I want to because I think it gives me that tiny bit of more confidence that I can pull off another win. There is nothing like seeing just an empty road to the finish line knowing that it is yours to lose. This has been an amazing weekend and well it can't get any better unless I pull of back-to-back wins in the Pro 1/2 field someday. Never say never.

The last 15 seconds shows my win!


I think my wins had a lot to do with having breakfast with my niece Makenna. We pounded some pandesal which is a sweet Filipino bread roll that you toast. It's best with a little butter spread in the middle. Some photos of our breakfast together.


She eats like her uncles

Taking a little break from eating and watching the birds.

Gotta love the onsie!

Wheels of Thunder.....The Element of Surprise.

I scored my third win of the season and man was it a sweet one. I won this race on an hour of sleep, no joke. Friday night activities included happy hour beers, pizza for dinner, 3 games of bowling and a few movies. Not your typical preparation for racing but whatever, I had a bast. I came into this season with one goal in cycling, to have fun. Along with more wins this season I have also had more Wendy's, more beer and more happy hour evenings. Like I've said before, when you are happy you are going to have more fun racing and well this season win more. It is official, I have more than enough points to upgrade to Cat. 2 but I will hold off on that upgrade and focus on helping out my teammates with upgrade points. Up next, Scott Kornfield Coal Miner's classic, can I pull off back-to-back wins? Check back to find out.

On another note there is a Filipino restaurant in Colorado Springs called Town Fiesta?? Yeah still trying to figure out the whole name thing but it is a Filipino restaurant with your typical karaoke set-up. The Shank family ad I went down to see all the hype. Anyways, $7.99 gets you an all-you-can-eat bottomless dinner plate and I'm pretty sure they lost money from my brother-n-law John and I. We might even put them out of business when I take my brother and my nephews for some authentic Filipino food. I went to town on the sinna-gong soup and Kari-kari. We ended the dinner with some amazing Halo-halo and got a to-go bag full of siopao and pandesal. They love us! We'll be back for the karaoke night but I first need to learn some classic Filipino song. Know of any?


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Espresso Machine

Another great espresso this morning, actually two! I'm in a lucky position to test this new espresso machine not yet on the market and provide feedback. The simple beauty of this model is not its own redeeming characteristic. This stainless steel machine is loaded with all sorts of good features like a 15-bar high pressure pump that quickly delivers very hot water, a removable water tank, a cup-warming plate and an easy to clean removable bottom. All this is offered because (blank) knows exactly how you feel before that first cup. I'm a fan and you will be too. Oh and that brewed coffee, yeah none of that anymore. There is no doubt that espresso is so much nicer than brewed coffee.

Starbucks No More...

because I now have an espresso machine that makes every morning a great morning. I just got this the other day and it rocks!

SUmmEr RaCinG ScHeDUle

MAY
5/17 Wheels of Thunder Crit., Highlands Ranch
5/18 Coal Miner's Classic, Louisville
5/20 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
5/26 Bolder Boulder 10K Run (not going to be pretty!)
5/29 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
5/31 Hugo Road Race, Hugo
JUNE
6/01 City Park Crit. (Team BBQ), Denver
6/03 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
6/08 Garden of Gods 10 Mile Run, Colorado Springs (Going to be painful BUT you get a cool dri-fit t-shirt)
6/10 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
6/15 Glenwood Springs Crit., Glenwood Springs
6/21 Rist Canyon Road Race, Ft. Collins
6/24 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
JULY
7/01 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
7/06 Niwot Crit, Niwot
7/08 CSP Table Mt. Race Series, Golden
7/12 Rocky Mounts Crit, Louisville
7/13 Senior Criterium Championships, Longmont
7/18-07/29 Chasing Makenna around Hawaii Race

I plan to upgrade and race as a Cat. 2 in August and September.
Race details can be found at http://americancyc.web152.discountasp.net/Schedule/2008Schedule.aspx

Meridian Race: Unofficial Win

Michael and I geared up after work and met up with about 80+ guys for the weekly Meridian circuit race down in Highlands Ranch. This was our second time doing this race and man was it much bigger. Michael is gearing up for Hugo road race May 31 so this is a great practice race with a couple hills that are enough to make it really sting in the legs. It's a 1 hour practice race with all categories and at the end only the fittest contend the finish. I managed to get in a few breaks and launch a few attacks but nothing really stuck. With 1 lap to go which is about 2 miles in length I just stayed put ready to pounce on the finishing hill. I came from about 10-15 back to out sprint everyone for the unofficial win. It felt really good considering I just started training again for the second part of my season. Hopefully this will lead to official wins soon. Next up is Wheels of Thunder and the Scott Kornfield Memorial Crit.

Afternoon w/ Lukie Boy

Lukie Boy and I spent the afternoon checking out kayakers, playing at the park, watching geese and of course ending it with a Wendy's Frosty.


This kayaker must of felt like a superstar because Lukie Boy was cheering him on.


Lukie Boy and I chillin waiting for the next kayaker to flip over.


Lukie Boy full speed down the slide. I taught him a few tricks to go faster from my good old sliding days. Actually I learned them last week but they work great.


Lukie Boy on the look out for baby geese


Lukie Boy patiently waiting for the geese to swim up close.

The 'Real' Grand Theft Auto